April 17, 2026, 11:28 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Netflix is fundamentally revamping its app for iOS and Android, introducing a new design that includes a vertical video feed. The Netflix Shorts had already been announced. But now it’s confirmed: The launch will happen in April.
The company itself announced the date in a letter to shareholders for the first quarter of 2026. The core of the update is the vertical feed in the style of TikTok or YouTube Shorts, which Netflix had already announced in May 2025. In the feed, users will find short clips and trailers from movies and series, which they can navigate through with a swipe. Netflix apparently wants to make it easier for them to discover new content.
Discover Content Faster with Swipe Gestures
Instead of searching for titles or reading long descriptions, subscribers receive continuous visual suggestions. If interested, they can add content directly from the feed to a watchlist. Earlier tests also included the ability to play or share content immediately. Whether these features are fully part of the new version is not yet clear.
The feed focuses exclusively on professionally produced content from the Netflix catalog. User-generated videos are not included. Instead of targeted searches or longer text descriptions, subscribers receive continuous visual suggestions tailored to their interests.
Netflix Will Soon Look Completely Different
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Vertical Netflix Videos Due to Changing Usage
Netflix justifies the introduction with changing usage habits. The lines between traditional television and mobile devices are increasingly blurring. New formats like interactive shows or video podcasts are particularly often consumed on smartphones.
Netflix is not alone with vertical videos; other streaming services are also responding to the trend. Tubi introduced a similar format in 2024, and Disney+ announced vertical videos for its app at the beginning of 2026.
Also interesting: Are top series at Netflix now facing the axe?
Part of a Larger Restructuring
The redesign of the Netflix app is happening during a phase of comprehensive changes. The company reported a revenue growth of 16 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year, but no longer provides current subscriber numbers. The last count was over 325 million worldwide.
Additionally, co-founder Reed Hastings has stepped down from the board of directors. At the same time, prices for many subscription models have been raised, and advertising continues to play a central role in revenue. Netflix is not only fighting for new customers with new formats, productions, and originals but also trying to retain existing ones permanently.